by Frank Drucker, publicity director, Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Yonkers Raceway hosted the second of five preliminary rounds of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series on Saturday night (April 3). As was the case in the opening leg, a half-dozen $50,000 divisions comprised half the card.

The first Levy division saw pole-sitting, 9-5 favorite Chasin Racin (Corey Callahan) make amends for a poor 2010 debut a week ago. He lasted on the lead (:27.4, :56.1; 1:24.3; 1:53.1), holding sway by a head. Chasin Racin defeated Winbak Fox (Jeff Gregory), with Corky Baran (Daniel Dube) third.

River Shark (Daniel Dube) won the fifth division in 1:53.

Chasin Racin, a 4-year-old son of The Panderosa co-owned by (trainer) George Teague and Elmer Fannin, returned $5.60 for his first win in two seasonal starts. The exacta paid $64.50, with the triple returning $142.

Saturday night’s second Levy group was — as advertised — a match race. Defending series champ Foiled Again (Jason Bartlett, four winners Saturday) left around Blueridge Western (Callahan), then easily held that one at bay.

Foiled Again, leaving from post position No. 6, put up intervals of :27.2, :56.4, 1:25.2 and 1:53.2. He won by three-quarters of a length as his pursuing, even-money favorite threw in a bad step when vacating the pocket. Handsome Harry (Dube) was third.

Foiled Again, a 6-year-old Dragon Again gelding trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables, returned $4.80 (second choice) for his first win in a couple of ’10 tries. The exacta paid $8.90, with the triple returning $15.20.

Poker Hat (Brett Miller, $10.20), fastest (1:52.4) of the opening-round winners, doubled up in Saturday night’s third division. Leaving into a three-hole from post No. 5, the second choice barely slipped out in front of Smellthecolornine (Bartlett) down the backside. Poker Hat then went up and over pacesetting Jeremy’s Successor (Tyler Buter), taking two lengths into the lane before winning by that margin in 1:53.1. Mr Wiggles (Callahan), trapped in behind a tiring leader, settled for second as the 4-5 choice, with Smellthecolornine third.

Poker Hat, a 6-year-old Cam’s Card Shark gelding trained by James Borke for co-owners Robert Lombardo and Howard Taylor, is now 5-for-12 this season. The exacta paid $24.80, the triple returned $155.50 and the superfecta (Dragon King-Jeff Gregory was fourth) paid $945.

The fourth event found trainer (Burke) and ownership (Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables) grab a series double as even-money Atochia (Bartlett, $4) held off series-debuting Days Of Courage N (Stephane Bouchard) by a neck in 1:53.2. Southwind Tabor (Greg Merton) was third.

Leaving from post No. 5, Atochia went wide and past pacesetting Special Report (Larry Stalbaum), slapping enough daylight before Days Of Courage N extricated himself from the two-hole.

For Atochia, a 5-year-old Dragon Again gelding, it was his first win in three seasonal starts. The exacta paid $20, with the triple returning $68.50.

Favored River Shark (Dube, three winners Saturday) couldn’t have had a much easier time in the fifth event. Outdrawing his condensed crowd of five, he rolled through weigh stations of :27.2, :56.3, 1:25.4 and 1:53. River Shark whipped Go Go Solano (Miller) by 2-3/4 lengths, with Real Nice (Bouchard) third. Tidewater Tomahawk (Jordan Stratton) tried a belated quarter-move and was summarily dismissed.

River Shark, a 4-year-old Four Starzzz Shark gelding trained by Mark Ford for co-owners Aaron Waxman, El Lobo LLC and VIP Internet Stable, returned $4.30 for his third win in five ’10 tries. The exacta paid $17, with the triple returning $55.

Mike Lizzi photos

Tenant In Chief was a 1:54 winner in the Levy nightcap.

The evening’s final Levy event saw Tenant In Chief (Brent Holland, $11.20) pick off pacesetting, 4-5 fave Badlands Nitro (Callahan) in 1:54.

Leaving from post No. 4, Tenant In Chief found himself buried third on the cones, awaiting the outer tier to back up. It did, and he took advantage, getting off the seasonal schneid by a neck. Psilvuheartbreaker (Jim Meittinis) was third.

Tenant In Chief, a 10-year-old Western Hanover gelding trained by Anita Vallee for owner Alroy Chow, returned $11.20 (third choice) for his first win in six seasonal starts. The exacta paid $40, with the triple returning $102.

Saturday’s card also included Round 3 of the Sagamore Hill Pacing Series for 3- and 4-year-old colts and geldings. The three, $12,500 divisions were won by:

• Giddy Up Delight, g, 4 (by Bettor’s Delight); owner David Shea/trainer Ford/driver Bartlett; 1:54.1/$2.80;
• Mr Massimo, g, 4 (Astreos); owner Anthony Scussel/trainer Matt Medeiros/driver Dube; 1:56.2/$20.40;
• Mr Rockford, g, 4 (by Dragon Again); owner Dean Davis/trainer Ford/driver Dube; 1:53.3/$5.90.

Yonkers’ regular five-night-per-week schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) remains in effect, albeit briefly. Effective the week of Monday, April 12, the Raceway shall add Wednesday nights (first one April 14) and eliminate Thursday nights (first one April 15). First post for all programs remains at 7:10 p.m.